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'81 242[ALL/1998] posted by matt on
Thursday, 27 March 1997, at 8:16 p.m.
Well, tragedy has struck. The other night as wifey and I were driving home, a Ford Bronco rear ended us at about 35 mph. His bumper was just higher than mine so he managed to crush the trunk section, shortening it by about 2 feet. The good news is that we are both walking around and just (maybe more than just) sore. So, my problem is this--I have dumped over $2,000 in parts into this car over the last two years. I'm fairly sure that the insurance guy will total it, and I want to know how to convey to him that the value of the car is somewhat more than the value shown in the blue book. I am sure that emotional attachment has no dollar value. I do think that a rear quarter panel, trunk lid, etc. could be had at a reasonable price, but the body work is way beyond my ability. The engine is original with 265K on it. I'm pretty bummed about the whole deal. I guess I could buy the wreck back from the insurance and look for an
Re: '81 242[ALL/1998] posted by Bob Weber on
Thursday, 27 March 1997, at 9:30 p.m.
Matt - I can certainly commiserate with you. My very first Volvo, a British racing green 1975 245 with 28K from Texas, (I bought it in 79) was totaled by a drunk in front of my own house. At the time the car was blue booked at $3500. No matter what I did, I could not convince the drunk's insurance company that I could not find another Texas Volvo with 28K on it for $3500. I found a 1976 with about 45K for $3800. They (State Farm) wanted to just replace the car with the same year and put me in a much higher mileage car - I ended up with a 1975 245 with 60K that wasn't half the car I had - live and learn. At 22 I didn't have the same Volvo smarts that I have now! That wrecked Volvo started me on a Volvo buying binge that has lasted almost 21 years, as I usually buy about 2 - 3 Volvos a year. Not much you can do, as I doubt they will give you much more than blue book unless you can produce a mountain of recent repairs and records.
Bob Weber SW Ohio VCOA 42 Volvos since 1979
SW Ohio Volvo Club Chapter Page
Re: '81 242[ALL/1998] posted by dave deford on
Friday, 28 March 1997, at 2:10 a.m.
If the insurance company fails to meet your needs, sue the driver who damaged your property. He is the one who is obligated to make it right - not to his insurance company's criteria, but to yours. Remember, the insurance company is just the hired help working for the guy who hit you.
As a practical matter, the insurance company is almost always obligated to pay the driver's legal bills if you do this, as well as pay whatever you do win in court. Therefore, they are fully aware that it will cost them more to win or lose than to make you happy.
A letter from an attorney explaining when and where the suit will commence is generally more than enough to get them to give you what you feel is FAIR.
Many companies also ofer a cash "settlement" to get you to sign a waiver of your rights to further compensation, i.e. medical bills. If you were really JUST SORE, it may not be much, but it could be the push to get you into a nicer car than the one you lost.
When this happened to me, there was a small amount of damage to my wife's kneecaps that will be there forever. Consequently, the cash settlement, plus the generous payment for the Ford Falcon that had been destroyed allowed us to get into our first Volvo, a 1970 142S. (It wasn't all that old at the time.) When the Volvo was subsequently rear-ended, the offender bounced off, totaled, while I had a dent in the spare tire well...
Re: '81 242[ALL/1998] posted by Stoney on
Friday, 28 March 1997, at 3:22 p.m.
Matt, Sorry to hear about the loss of a family member, I hope that you and your wife are OK. If the guy was illegal in any way, nail his/her butt to the barn door and sell tickets.
You could fix up your puppy if you wanted and here's a few pointers.
Don't let Ins. co sell the wreck. Offer to pay storage,$10 day, yourself or buy wreck outright.
Take accurate measurements and pics of car and go to a friendly body shop. Ask if they think it can be done. If so see if they will work with you, IE: This Old Volvo
Head for the biggest salvage yard around you nd locate a "rear clip" of same vintage, or newer if it is available, and get wholesale cost to the body shop.
Put the numbers together and if you do the stripping of accessories,seats etc.and rewiring and such, and get their paint work at weld site only (Earl Shieb or MAACO the rest) you just might pull it off.
Stoney